Why Should I Make My Website Mobile-Friendly or Have a Mobile Website?

Posted by John on June 15, 2012

What is a Mobile Website?

A mobile website is a browser-based website that is developed specifically for a fast and efficient experience on mobile devices. Usually, the content on a mobile website is displayed in a list form, the pages load quickly, and heavy visuals are simplified.

User Experience Considerations for Mobile Devices

The way mobile users will use your website on their mobile devices will need to be considered to make your website more applicable to them. Your existing website content and user interface needs to be prioritised for your mobile website to take advantage of mobile features such as click-to-call and maps, which mobile users will wish to find faster. You can’t use Flash as it won’t render on mobile devices, your website needs to be validated to HTML5 to ensure that is is error free, while loading time has got to be fast.

How many times have you tried to view a website from your smartphone and found that you had to keep scrolling and zooming to make out the content that you were trying to read. Worst yet, some menu functions does not work and some content are just simply not viewable from your mobile browser, especially when you had needed the information at the very moment. Bet you also had exited the website pretty soon.

On the other hand, you could have visited other websites on your mobile phone where you were pleasantly greeted with a user-friendly interface which catered to your mobile device. The buttons were larger, easy to find and tap, while the content was streamlined into a different layout from your desktop experience, fitting your mobile screen perfectly, great for reading without having to pinch and zoom all the time.

Why Should I Make My Website Mobile-Friendly or Have a Mobile Website?

Users are increasingly accessing information from their mobile devices and mobile web growth is happening 4 times faster than the internet. By 2014, mobile internet should take over desktop internet usage. One half of all local searches are performed on mobile devices. Customers are researching information about businesses, products and services while on the move, out of which 60% will make a call or visit the business location immediately. Websites not optimised for mobile devices will soon be a market barrier for their owners. Is your website geared for these potential customers, how does your own website display on your mobile phone?